To view the Conference Agenda, List of Participants, and ...

THE CONFERENCE IS FUNDED FROM THE EXTRA-BUDGETARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OSCE/ODIHR
OF THE NORWEGIAN AND THE AMERICAN DELEGATIONS TO THE OSCE
30- 31 March 2005
Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
RECOMMENDATIONS
We, the participants of "Legal Framework on the Freedom of Association and Assembly in
Central Asia" Conference, representing state authorities and non-governmental organisations
of the Central Asian states, as well as international organisations,
Reaffirming the commitment of all the Central Asian states to democratic development,
Reaffirming the commitment to the principle of superiority of human rights in the face of
threats to national security and any other challenges of the present time,
Recognising importance of such fundamental human rights as freedom of association and
peaceful assembly for the development of the strong civil society,
Taking into consideration that freedom of association and assembly are not subject to any
restrictions except for those that are prescribed by law, satisfy the requirement of proportionality and
foreseeability and are necessary in a democratic society,
recommend:
General recommendations:
• to comply with international human rights standards while adopting new legislative measures
relating to combating terrorism, counteracting extremism and ensuring national security,
• to implement international standards pertaining to the freedom of association and assembly
which are contained in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Racial Discrimination, the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the Convention on
the Rights of the Child, the UN Declaration on the Human Rights Defenders, the Council of
Europe Fundamental Principles on the Status of NGOs in Europe into national legislation of
the Central Asian states with an aim of ensuring that law implementation practices fully
comply with these standards,
• to facilitate awareness raising, dissemination and application of the best international practices
relating to the free exercise of freedom of association and assembly,
• to ensure transparency of all stages of the legislative procedure by means of mandatory
publication in mass media of draft laws relating to freedom of association and assembly,
involvement of NGO representatives in working groups on elaboration of draft laws, holding
public hearings and debates,